For Jeff Ladra, founder of the San Francisco shirt company Pladra, a great flannel is about more than appearances.

"Our goal is to create durable shirts perfect for outdoor sports," Ladra says. "We're a company that emphasizes that sportsman lifestyle. Part of that is making a shirt you can buy once and wear forever."

One of the most popular Pladra shirts is the Leon, which features the signature black and orange of the San Francisco Giants. The heavyweight, 100 percent Portuguese cotton-flannel is perfect for those cold summer nights at the ballpark. The Leon also includes another favorite element of the Pladra customer - the faux-suede elbow patches that lend a hint of intellect to Pladra's rugged design.

Pladra is also committed to sustainable design, not only by producing garments that can take a beating but also by utilizing local vendors, from embroidery to sewing the shirts in San Francisco to reduce their carbon footprint. Before a shirt reaches production, it's also been tested to calculate shrinkage and guarantee it keeps the ideal fit after washing.

"What we wanted to create," Ladra says, "is a shirt that can go from the field to the bar - even if there's a little blood on it."